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Once upon a time, Astoria was the largest log exporter on the West Coast. But boatloads of Douglas fir haven’t steamed for Asia from Northwest Oregon in 14 years. That’s expected to change this summer as Westerlund Log Handlers, based in Bremerton, Wash., sets up a log-exporting facility on Port of Astoria property.

Like most cities around the state, Gresham has been hard hit by the commercial real estate crash. Its downtown core is dotted with vacant storefronts, left behind by businesses that failed or moved out of town. But unlike most cities, Gresham decided one way to bring business back to its downtown was to waive all development-related fees as well as first-year license fees.

After distinguishing itself as one of Oregon’s fastest-growing private companies in 2007, the 46-employee Portland-based e-marketing firm eROI saw its growth slow through 2008 and 2009. But don’t blame the recession.

Robotics education in the Gorge got new wind last fall when Google gave $43,000 to two groups in The Dalles for Lego Mindstorms. Kids ages 6 to 18 use the kits to build robots out of sensors, motors and Legos that can be programmed using simplified software.

When the Pentagon blocked construction of the $2 billion Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm because turbines could scramble aircraft radar at a facility in Fossil, Oregon’s congressional delegation went to bat for the state’s economy.